A British tourist who boarded a flight seated only a few rows away from a woman who subsequently died from hantavirus has been detained and placed in quarantine while on holiday in Italy. The holidaymaker, along with his companion who was not on the same flight, was apprehended outside a bar on Tuesday evening and taken to Sacco Hospital in Milan by authorities. Both individuals have been placed in isolation for an undisclosed period, effectively halting their travel plans.
The British citizen had been on the same flight from Saint Helena to Johannesburg as Miriam Schilperoord, 69, a passenger from the MV Hondius who later died. She was the wife of Dutch ornithologist Leo Schilperoord, 70, believed to be 'patient zero'. The couple fell ill after visiting a landfill site in Argentina for birdwatching. The UK government notified Italian authorities about the British tourist, who had travelled through several countries, including Amsterdam, before arriving in Milan. As he had no private accommodation and was staying in a bed and breakfast, he will have to endure the entire quarantine period in hospital.
Italian Authorities Investigate Further Cases
Italian authorities are awaiting test results for a 25-year-old man who boarded a separate flight with Mrs. Schilperoord from Johannesburg to Amsterdam, to determine if he tests positive for the virus. Local authorities are analysing the Calabrian man's biological samples at Spallanzani Hospital in Rome.
UK Residents Brought Home
Ten Britons from South Atlantic islands linked to the cruise ship outbreak will be brought to the UK in case they develop the illness. The group, residents of the UK overseas territories of Saint Helena and Ascension Island, are being flown to Britain to complete self-isolation. All are British and include individuals who left the cruise ship in Saint Helena, plus medical staff who have been in contact with them. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) stated the total includes four individuals in Saint Helena who were on the cruise ship and six close contacts on Ascension Island. None are symptomatic, and their final destination in Britain is unknown, with the move described as 'precautionary to support communities in UK overseas territories'. Once in Britain, they will have access to NHS infectious disease specialists if they become ill.
Meanwhile, 20 British nationals from the MV Hondius, along with a German UK resident and a Japanese passenger, who have been isolating at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral in Merseyside, are preparing to leave the facility. They were taken there on Sunday night after the ship docked in Tenerife for a three-day isolation and assessment period. They will continue isolation for another 42 days at home. The UKHSA said public health and clinical specialists have assessed each passenger's individual circumstances, and tailored support packages will be provided to enable isolation at home. Health protection teams will monitor and support everyone daily throughout the isolation period.
Mental Health Concerns for Passengers
The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told a briefing that some passengers on the cruise ship had been 'facing mental breakdown'. He said it would have been 'inhumane' to leave people on board rather than allowing the ship to dock in Tenerife, from where passengers were repatriated. He emphasised the need for kindness and compassion, stating that almost 150 people from 23 countries were on the ship for weeks in a frightening situation. He praised Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, for allowing the ship to dock in the Canaries. So far, 11 hantavirus cases have been reported among people on the cruise, including three deaths. Nine cases are confirmed, with two more probable. Dr Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that there is no sign of a larger outbreak but added that more cases might appear in the coming weeks due to the virus's long incubation period.
